Move over, scented candles, there’s a new living room accessory that conveys class and an elevated aesthetic for homeowners and guests alike. Once relegated to bedroom closets, the cannabis pipe’s day has arrived. And today’s models are no longer cheap plastic contraptions that might topple over at any moment to release the dreaded bong water across the carpet. Today’s water pipes are sculpted by skilled glass artisans with a beauty that is matched by their efficiency and crisp, clean taste.
Nowhere is the cannabis pipe status as a stunning conversation piece more evident than at Stoked, a progressive smoke shop located on Fairfield Avenue in the Black Rock district of Bridgeport. The rise of Stoked reflects the ascendency of the cannabis industry from the shadows to an important place in an adult’s recreational landscape. We look to cannabis to supplement everything from extra zing in a social environment to mellowing down to aid with sleep.
Stoked suggests we’ve achieved yet another level of respectability: a high-end, progressive smoke shop complemented by a glass-blowing studio. This pairing of amenity and art is akin to the rise of distilleries and art cooperatives. American consumers are drawn to environments where an element of the product, be it whiskey or ceramics, is created onsite. In establishing a dynamic creative and commercial space, Stoked has taken the cannabis industry to a higher place.
The Stoked glass studio is much more than a venue for demonstration; it houses 10 full-time professional resident artists. Workshops led by experienced artists are regularly offered for intermediate to experienced glassblowers; bench rentals, including all necessary tools, are also available. Private classes as well as the popular Sunday Funday are open for registration for novices, routinely drawing dozens of participants who are eager to craft their own glass pipe, create a gift, or begin a side hobby.
Like the corner barbershop or brewery, Stoked has also grown into a gathering place for the greater cannabis community, hosting regular events that feature a variety of internationally renowned multimedia artists such as David Murdoc and glass pipe legends, including Steve Sizelove and Andrew Certo. Stoked regularly adds new events that often sell out fast, so stay up to date with their events page to join in.
Stoked can bring the most celebrated glass pipe creators to Bridgeport because of the staff’s dedication to supporting local artists. Unlike many smoke shops that rely heavily on poorly made imported knockoffs, Stoked was launched by Zac and Charlie in 2013 to represent artisans who were taking their craft to unimaginable places, doing for the cannabis pipe what Chihuly has done for glass sculpture.
Creating a regional hub for this glass art sub-culture has given Stoked the ability to feature the finest one-of-a-kind pieces from globally recognized masters like DISK, Yoshinori Kondo, JFell, Piper Dan Benway, Takao Miyake and many more. Stoked also plays a major role in curating show pieces you will see in their gallery with pieces such as the original Chaka x John W x Stephen Boehme x Windstar “Smoke Shop of the Year” Demo Piece.
Cannabis culture continues to expand across Connecticut, New England, and America. In many homes, offering sativa and indica blends in a variety of forms from edibles to buds and tinctures at private social gatherings has become as common as featuring wine varietals, cocktails, and appetizers. Utilizing a showpiece like Green T’s Blue Art Deco Sacred Vessel is a natural evolution of the cannabis cocktail aesthetic. Green T gathered inspiration from Egyptian culture to create a “custom blue and black vessel with hand-etched carvings inlaid with 24k gold filigree.”
Stoked also offers all of your classic smoke shop amenities, including custom-designed spoons, dab rigs, pendants, chillums, and Sherlocks, among others. There are multiple styles of pipes and glass art to choose from in all price ranges; you can find something that speaks to your style or something very rare and highly collectable. Becoming an early adapter to the variety and brilliance of glass art demonstrates yet another avenue through which cannabis culture is changing the lifestyle aesthetic for everyone.
Zac and Charlie anticipated that a new community would form as cannabis enjoyment entered the mainstream in Connecticut. They established Stoked as more than a retail space, choosing to add a glass blowing studio, schedule events, and encourage community in their Black Rock space. Visit the Stoked gallery and studio or click on the website to join this dynamic collective of next-level glass art appreciation.